Putting pen to paper – w/c 11th September

So, here we go. 'Back in the saddle' as they say. Rather than revert to an entry a day ("been there, done that") I thought I might try and keep myself honest by previewing the week ahead - and then in seven days' time looking back to see how I got on. It's all about … Continue reading Putting pen to paper – w/c 11th September

Getting my act together…

Following on from my recent rumination about time and what to do with it ("Today's the day"), over the last few days I have turned my attention to kick-starting some new Coverstory books publishing initiatives. The first of these is a new short story collection following on from the 2022 volume Making Marks in the … Continue reading Getting my act together…

“Antarctica”

Although Claire Keegan's collection of short stories, Antarctica, has won numerous plaudits, there was something about them which bothered me. It was as if there was something missing - or, more likely, something I hadn't spotted. Perhaps I was put off by the title story which I found unrealistic and a little clichéd. If the … Continue reading “Antarctica”

“Fictions”

Surreal. Weird. Undefinable. Mind-bending. You choose - because as I was working my way through Jorge Luis Borges' Fictions I had no idea what I was reading! More often than not the individual pieces felt like non-fiction or reportage; but then the content was so surreal... It was one of those books where I really … Continue reading “Fictions”

An interim update (2nd June)…

Although this is undeniably 'off piste' in terms of my daily diary, given the bleak nature of my earlier post - and yesterday's 'black day' - I feel it incumbent on me to offer a glimmer of light sooner rather than later. And if not for you, then for me..! Merely as a point of … Continue reading An interim update (2nd June)…

New podcast episode!

I have just published a new episode to my "WalkingThruFire" podcast. It is "What he knew", a short story taken from my collection, Degrees of Separation. I hope you like it. 'Walkingthrufire' can also be found on Audible, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts etc.

New podcast episode!

I have just published a new episode to my "WalkingThruFire" podcast. It is an untitled piece I wrote when at the 2022 Swanwick Writers' Summer School. It emerged from two workshops, one on the short story and one on general fantasy. The amalgam is - I have always assumed - the beginning of something rather … Continue reading New podcast episode!

Interesting TV – but you’ve got to go searching for it…

In the last week or so I have seen three interesting chunks of TV - but I had to go looking for them. And I'm afraid that as these are all on BBC iplayer, if you're outside the UK you may not have access to them... Mark Lawson talks to Martin Amis. an hour-long interview … Continue reading Interesting TV – but you’ve got to go searching for it…

Virtual book launch today – still time to sign-up!

Today I am having an on-line launch of my most recent books with a short reading from each of them: - Once Significant Others ~ a novel from which I will read the opening few paragraphs - Tilt ~ a novel from which I will also read a short extract - An Irregular Piece of Sky ~ a collection of short … Continue reading Virtual book launch today – still time to sign-up!

Virtual book launch tomorrow!

On Monday 22nd May I am having an on-line launch of my most recent books with a short reading from each of them: - Once Significant Others ~ a novel from which I will read the opening few paragraphs - Tilt ~ a novel from which I will also read a short extract - An Irregular Piece of Sky ~ a … Continue reading Virtual book launch tomorrow!